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Digging and tunneling is what hamsters love to do the most, it's what they do in the wild because it's part of their survival instinct. So if you want to have a happy hamster, then you'll need to make an environment where they can dig & burrow 'till their little hearts are content.
There are a few ways you can set up such an environment, if you already have a cage you could lay about 10cm of torn paper or tissue paper, on the bottom of the cage giving them sleeping area an extra hand full or two. Or if you do not have a cage or you just want to make another play area for you hamster you could fill a large bin so they can dig & tunnel as much as they want. If you are going to do it this way, with a waste bin, remember to leave enough room at the top of the bin so your hamster does not get out.
If you feel it could get a bit too messy then an other option would be to get a hamster cage with tunnels already fitted, this way your pet hamster can entertain him and be in a save atmosphere. Apart from giving your hamster sufficient materials to dig & burrow, it's also very necessary that your hamster have sufficient amount of the right resources to build a nesting area.
Again wood shavings & shredded tissue paper are the easiest materials for this, one word of warning though never use any wood that has been treated in any way, as hamsters love chewing and this can make your hamster awfully sick burrowing area will also create the perfect environment for your hamster to get some privacy & retreat when it feels frozen. Hamsters can be nervous little creators by nature so it's extremely important for them to have an area were they can withdraw for some solitude, you will notice your pet hamster will be less stressed, a lot more happy & better off because of this.
Beware of using nesting materials with small fibers, ie cotton. These can cause digestive problems if your hamster ingests them. One of the best choices for nesting material is toilet paper, slightly shredded. When replacing the nest during your weekly cage clean, make sure you leave some of the nesting material behind, so your hamster does not become stressed by the change in its immediate environment.
Hamsters can be toilet trained, which can make cleaning your cage a lot easier and a lot less messy. After a few weeks of owning your new pet, see where the greatest concentration of droppings is located in the cage, then place a small tray filled with either newspaper or cat litter pellets (as opposed to clumping cat litter, which can cause health problems for hamsters if eat). Your hamster should soon start to use the litter tray, just like a cat, and before to long your pet hamster will be completely toilet trained.
Another thing to bear in mind is that your hamsters teeth continue growing all its lifetime, so do not forget to find your pet hamster all the chewy toys they require. Getting them soft chewy toys will help them keep their teeth regular and will decrease the chances of your hamster's teeth overgrowing, and preventing them from maintaining a usual diet. In the case of your hamster breaking a tooth, the best thing to do is dig up a fine pare of scissors, and reduce the length of the longer tooth to match the shooter one.
This will aid your hamster to eat and significantly decrease their discomfort. Do not worry, this does not hurt your pet in any way, it's the same as when you cut your nails, but you will have to get a really good hold on your hamster because they will wriggle around a bit, holding them from the scruff of the neck is the easiest way of doing this.
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Source by Nelson Gaona
